Opus in Calif. Continues to Beef Up Credit Ranks

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., has hired a veteran risk manager to structure senior debt for commercial and specialty banking.

The $7.7 billion-asset bank said in a press release Tuesday that Volkan Salar was appointed senior credit administrator of commercial banking.

Salar previously served as a credit products market manager with BBVA Compass' corporate risk management group, where he oversaw the growth and management of a $2.5 billion commercial-and-industrial loan portfolio. Before that, he was a portfolio risk manager at Sterling Bank.

Salar "is a highly regarded banking veteran with a deep understanding of, and significant experience in, structuring credit products, services, and solutions for middle-market businesses and corporations." Stephen Gordon, Opus' president and chief executive, said in the release.

Opus earlier this month promoted two lending officers, Ed Padilla and Geoff Anfuso, to lead its commercial real estate and commercial and specialty banking divisions. The bank also announced that it would split its chief credit officer responsibilities to create a role solely focused on commercial and specialty lending.

The company recently reported a third-quarter loss tied to nearly $39 million in chargeoffs on eight loans in its technology, commercial and specialty lending divisions.